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Nokia was a vital cog in Finland’s economy and a world leader in mobile technology for 14 years, but what is the company up to now?

While you may have heard that Nokia recently released a new and updated version of their classic 3310 handset, you might not know what the tech giants have up their sleeve next. Bloomberg reveals they want to power a new world of driverless cars and telemedicine.

Elsewhere, Singapore is looking to Finland and Iceland to see how the two Nordic countries have found success in preventing drug abuse among young people.

Finland also made it into The Guardian this week, with the British paper publishing a follow-up feature about the country’s so-called wolf problem. It appears that there are actually far fewer wild wolves than previously thought.

In other news, Helsinki airport is the best connected in northern Europe and 300,000 Finns try to dance their way into the record books over Midsummer.

Driverless cars and telemedicine: What is Nokia up to now?Bloomberg

“ Nokia has arguably been in the communications technology business for a century and a half. “Arguably” because, for that to be true, one needs to consider the company’s original product, paper pulp, a communications technology. Also, one has to know that Nokia Corp. is still in business.

To those who think nostalgically of mobile phones when they hear Nokia, that may not be obvious. For 14 years the tech giant reigned as the world’s biggest handset maker and, while it was at it, a primary engine of Finland’s economy. The company’s fall, however, was swift. In 2012 it lost $4 billion. In 2013 it agreed to sell off its phone business, which employed 32,000, to Microsoft Corp. “It’s evident Nokia doesn’t have the resources to fund the required acceleration across mobile phones and smart devices,” said the company’s chairman, Risto Siilasmaa, in announcing the sale.

But while Nokia has gotten smaller, it remains a big company, with net sales of $26.1 billion last year. It’s a very different company, though, than it was in the heyday of its simple, durable, adorably chunky phones. ”

Original article was published by on 29/06/2017 and can be found here.

“ It is 4pm on a Wednesday in suburban Helsinki, and around 10 children are gathered at a youth centre, playing video games or chatting. A pool table stands in what feels like a cosy living room, and a dance studio lies farther in the compound.

This centre in the suburb of Pasila is one of three nearby offering free activities for young people, said Ms Elisa Prepula, 47, area coordinator for Klaari - the city's unit for coordinating substance-abuse prevention work among its youth. There are over 40 youth centres in Helsinki.

Such centres are one of its many community partners - which include the police, schools and parishes - in disseminating the substance-abuse prevention message.

"What we do in our network helps, not by going straight to the children, but with a trickle-down effect," said Ms Prepula. For example, Klaari handles a programme where 15- to 16-year-olds are trained as "peer educators" on issues like alcohol and cannabis abuse. They then teach their younger peers. ”

Original article was published by on 27/06/2017 and can be found here.

Fewer wild wolves in Finland than previously thoughtThe Guardian

“ Conservation groups have raised concerns over Finland’s wild wolf population after a new census found numbers far below those regarded as naturally sustainable.

Data from the Finnish National Resources Institute show there are currently only about 150 to 180 wolves living in Finland, where the government awards licences to hunt the animals.

The estimate is much lower than previous estimates, which put the population at more than 230 animals more than a year ago.

It also falls a long way short of the estimated 800 individuals needed to sustain a healthy degree of genetic diversity within the population, according to the Wolf Action Group, a conservation committee within the Finnish Nature League. ”

Original article was published by on 26/06/2017 and can be found here.

Helsinki Airport: Best connected in northern EuropeeTurboNews

“ Helsinki Airport, operated by Finavia, is the best connected airport in Northern Europe. According to the findings of Airports Council International’s (ACI) Airport Industry Connectivity report, Helsinki Airport is [a] highly competitive operation that offers a wide network of destinations and attracts a high proportion of transit passengers.

Ranked highest in the ACI Europe report are airports offering excellent links with other well-connected airports. Helsinki Airport is ranked 12th in Europe and a clear first in Northern Europe.

In this year’s analysis, Helsinki Airport’s hub connectivity index measured at 9,982. This represents growth of 96% in just ten years. Helsinki is by far the best connected airport in Northern Europe, well ahead of Copenhagen in second place with 5,404 index points and ranked 15th overall. Oslo was ranked 17th with 3,868 index points. Both Oslo and Copenhagen attract higher passenger volumes than Helsinki Airport. ”

Original article was published by on 27/06/2017 and can be found here.

Organized by Finland's national broadcasting company, Yle, the event was to break a Dutch record of collective dancing in 2006, when 265,000 people danced at the same time.

While the counting of dancers continues on Saturday, Yle hoped the number could reach 300,000.

The participants danced to the tune HulaHula, a popular song performed by Finnish teenager star known as Robin. A music video of the song released on Youtube in April this year has attracted more than three million viewers. ”

Original article was published by on 25/06/2017 and can be found here.

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Helsinki Times is the very first leading English language publication in Finland established in 2007, covering Finland related news on daily basis. A weekly print edition of Helsinki Times was published from March 2007 up until Feb. 2015.

At the moment Helsinki Times is an online only publication. Readers are mainly expats, diplomats and other international individuals, businesses and groups residing in Finland. Visitors are also tourists, individuals and businesses interested in Finland from all around the world.